Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Wilberforce Parish Church Retreat

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Introduction

Our parish retreat this weekend shall bring into focus some essential perspectives that shall help us move forward in our experiential relationship with the God.

Today some of us at this retreat may be Searching. We are not yet sure of our relationship with God and we want to find out more about how to have a purposeful relationship with our Creator and Saviour. May you discover for yourself that the Christian life involves a real relationship with the Living God.

Today some us may have moved to a Commitment of our lives to Jesus Christ. We know we need God’s Word to grow us as Christians, as we need the fellowship and love of other Christians in our fellowship. May you discover this weekend some vital principles that will help you to grow in your spiritual maturity.

Today some of may be progressing in our spiritual journey as Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. However sometimes we encounter roadblocks that hinder our relationship with the Lord. May you discover that those roadblocks are not insurmountable, but steps to lead you on in your relationship with God.

No matter what age we are, we are continually warned of the dangers of heart problems. Recently I described to a doctor friend that I had an all-round ministry as I tapped the shelf that I carry around my middle each day. She didn’t see the humour. She said, “While you are still young you should do something about that!” Ouch! I know she is right. I need to do some things to avoid the heart problems I know will be coming one day. We (she) talked about foods that should be avoided to avoid the problem of arteries getting clogged with Cholesterol.

There is spiritual cholesterol that can block the inner life of your heart relationship with God. Difficulties in our past, handicaps in our present, self-perceptions that pull us away from our relationship with God, can all act as spiritual cholesterol hindering our heart relationship with God.

This weekend we shall examine how the spiritual cholesterol of :

a. The fear of failure may be answered by being Strengthened by His Spirit in the inner man

b. The fear of Rejection may be answered by being Indwelt by the Saviour.

c. The Shame factor may be answered by the cross and realizing we are loved with an everlasting love

God’s desire for every believer is that those blocked arteries be cleared so that you and I may be “Filled up with all the fullness of God.”

Consider these questions privately.

Do I often feel isolated and afraid of people, especially authority figures?

Have I observed myself to be an approval seeker? Do I lose my own identity in the process?

Do I feel overly frightened of angry people and of personal criticism?

Do I often feel I’m a victim in personal and career relationships?

Do I sometimes feel I have an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, which makes it easier to be more concerned with others than with myself?

Is it hard for me to look at my own faults and my own responsibility to myself?

Do I feel guilty when I stand up for myself instead of giving in to others?

Do I feel addicted to excitement?

Do I judge myself harshly?

Do I have a low sense of self-esteem?

Do I often feel abandoned in the course of my relationships?

If you feel free to discuss these questions in your small group, then for this questionnaire only, please share your thoughts.

Study 1 The Strengthening Of His Spirit

In the course of our time together this weekend we will ask ourselves some deep questions that reflect our personal inner world. While the answers we give to these questions will differ from person to person, please keep your answers to these questions to yourselves. While the answers you give may reflect your inner understandings, others may not see things the same way as you do. The gospel impacts upon our self-perceptions as we allow the grace of God to touch our lives deeply. The purpose of the 4 tests provided in these pages is to assit you in making the theological truths you have learnt this weekend personal and relevant to your spiritual life. The purpose of these questionnaires is to point us to Christ who is “the hope of Glory” (Col 1:27), and who alone can meet our deepest needs.

Fear of Failure Test

On your own, while in your small groups consider this questionnaire and fill in your score alongside each numbered question.

1= Always 2 =Sometimes 3= Seldom 4= Never

I avoid participating in some activities because I am afraid I will not be good enough.

I become anxious when I sense I may fail.

I worry.

I have unexplained anxiety.

I feel I must justify my mistakes.

I feel I must succeed in some areas.

7. I become depressed when I fail.

I become angry with people who interfere with my success and who make me appear incompetent.

I am a perfectionist.

I am self-critical.

Total (Add up the numbers you placed in the blanks.)

Why is it important for each believer to be strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man?

The Holy Spirit is a Person. He is divine (Acts 5:3-4); He is the third Person in the Trinity (Matthew 3:16-17). Read later today on your own John chapters 14, 15 and 16, and notice all the references to the Holy Spirit in which He is clearly presented as a Person, one with the Father and with Christ Himself.

The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. This is clearly taught in Scripture – compare John 14:16-17; Romans 5:5; Romans 8:8-9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:8. In these references the Holy Spirit is said to dwell ‘in’ the Christian. He has been ‘given’ to the Christian. The Christian ‘has’ the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can fill each area of our lives; our worship life (Ephesians 5:18-20), our Wedded life (Ephesians 5:21-33), our home life (Ephesians 6:1-5), our work life (Ephesians 6:6-9) and our spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18), and our witness (Ephesians 6:19,20). Sometimes the Holy Spirit may strengthen and fill us for unexpected and unprepared for situations (Acts 7:54-60). He is more likely to strengthen someone in the extraordinary circumstances of life if they have already learned the principle of being strengthened for the ordinary circumstances of life.

The divine standard that God has set for Christian living and service is so high that it is impossible to reach that standard without the enabling ministry of the Holy Spirit.

What characteristics will be evident in the life of a Spirit strengthened believer?

Compare Galatians 5:16-21; with verses 22-26.

What do you notice about the characteristics of a Spirit strengthened life?

Why are these characteristics more important than flashy theatrical spectacles?

How will these characteristics be evident in the local congregation of believers?

How may we encourage others to be strengthened by the Spirit?

What are the hindrances to a Spirit-filled life?

Study 2. My Heart Christ’s Home!

Have you ever considered that your relationship with God has so changed that remarkably Christ dwells in you? And because He dwells in you, you can know that you are accepted by God.

Ephesians 1: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; KJV

with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. ESV

that He favored us with in the Beloved. HCSB

Fear of Rejection Test

On your own, while in your small groups consider this questionnaire and fill in your score alongside each numbered question.

1= Always 2 =Sometimes 3= Seldom 4= Never

When I sense that someone might reject me, I become anxious.

I spend lots of time analyzing why someone was critical or sarcastic to me or ignored me.

I am uncomfortable around those who are different from me.

It bothers me when someone is unfriendly to me.

I am basically shy and unsocial.

I am critical of others.

I find myself trying to impress others.

I become depressed when someone criticizes me.

I try to determine what people think of me.

I don’t understand people and what motivates them.

_____ Total (Add up the numbers you have placed in the blanks.)

You have been accepted by God, so far that the Lord Jesus Christ has made His home in your life.

The Miracle Of Christ’s Indwelling:

The Indwelling of Christ is the Source Of Our Conversion.

Read Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

What does this passage indicate concerning the Holy Spirit’s work in each believer?

The Indwelling of Christ is the Source of our Communion.

Read Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The idea of eating together carries the idea of close friendship and communion. Jesus said of His disciples

John 15: 13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you.

How does the consideration that Jesus calls you His friend affect your thinking, feeling and actions?

The Indwelling Of Christ Is The Source Of Our Consecration

Read Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Compare this passage with the Lord’s words

John 12: 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

How does this dying to live take place?

The Indwelling of Christ is the Source of our Courage.

After the disciples had been gaoled and threatened by the Pharisees and Saducees, they prayed with the church in Jerusalem;

Acts 4: 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Would the knowledge of the Indwelling of Christ make a substantial difference in your personal witness?

The Indwelling Of Christ is the Source of our Comfort.

Col 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

In what way does the Indwelling of Christ give you comfort?

Study 3 Filled To Overflowing

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

We are to be filled with the Spirit.

Eph 5:18-19 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

We are to be filled With Christ

Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Col 2: 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, "He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

We are to be filled with the fullness of God

This seems overwhelming and scarey when we consider our own sinfulness.

Shame Test

On your own, while in your small groups consider this questionnaire and fill in your score alongside each numbered question.

1= Always 2 =Sometimes 3= Seldom 4= Never

1. I often think about past failures or experiences of rejection that have occurred in my life.

4. I want to change certain aspects of my character, but I don’t believe I ever can successfully do so.

5. I feel inferior.

6. I cannot accept certain aspects of my appearance.

7. I am generally disgusted with myself.

8. I feel that certain experiences basically have ruined my life.

9. I perceive of myself as an immoral person.

10. I feel I have lost the opportunity to experience a complete and wonderful life.

Total (Add the numbers you have placed in the blanks.)

Read Luke 19:1-10

1He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Which aspects of this story touch your heart the most?

Which verses encourage you and why?

Is there something incomprehensible about the love of Christ to Zacchaeus?

How deep does Christ’s love reach?

Pastor Steve mentioned his own testimony of discovering the love of Christ from 1 Timothy 1:15

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Some people have difficulty perceiving the love of Christ or the love of the Father towards them. What problems may hinder them from feeling and experiencing love in this way?

One of the most potent passages speaking of the Father’s love to us is Luke 15

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Which aspects of this parable touch your heart and why?

What significant memories will you take from the passages we have discussed this weekend?

Paul reminds us in Philippians 4

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.